iOS 26: Don’t Like Apple’s New Liquid Glass Look? Here’s How To Change It

Apple’s iOS 26 has rolled out with a big design refresh called Liquid Glass. It makes menus, icons, and widgets look translucent, almost like you’re seeing them through frosted glass. It’s the biggest design shift since iOS 7. Some people like the modern touch, but if it feels distracting or harder to read, you do have options to tweak it. Also Read: Apple iOS 26.2 Public Beta 1 Brings These 4 Features That Are Worth Trying

With some simple steps, you can change the look of the latest Liquid Glass of the iPhone with the iOS 26 update. Also Read: iOS 27 To Deliver Biggest Apple Intelligence Update Yet: Here’s What’s Expected

iOS 26: How to Tone It Down on iPhone and iPad

You can’t completely switch it off, but you can reduce the transparency so everything looks darker and clearer. Here’s how: Also Read: Hands-Free Photos? Your AirPods Can Do That Now With iOS 26

• First of all, go to Settings
• Tap Accessibility option
• Here, select Display & Text Size
• Now, turn on Reduce Transparency

This makes menus and backgrounds easier to read. If you want even more clarity, toggle Increase Contrast – it adds subtle outlines to separate elements better.

Customise the Look Instead

Not looking to reduce transparency? Apple also lets you adjust how Liquid Glass appears. On your Home Screen, press and hold any empty space, tap Edit > Customise, and you’ll get options like:

• Themes: Default, Clear, Dark, or Tinted
• Icon modes: Light, Dark, or Auto
• Brightness and icon size controls

This way, you can keep the Liquid Glass effect but make it match your style.

What About Mac and Apple Watch?

It’s not just the iPhone. On an iPad, the same Accessibility settings apply. On a Mac running macOS 26 Tahoe, head to System Settings > Accessibility > Display and toggle Reduce Transparency. Even the Apple Watch picks up the same option for a toned-down look.

FAQs

Q1. What is the Liquid Glass design in iOS 26?
It’s Apple’s new UI style that makes menus, icons, and backgrounds look translucent with a frosted-glass effect.

Q2. Can I turn off the Liquid Glass effect on my iPhone?
Yes. You can go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Reduce Transparency to limit or disable it.

Q3. Does Liquid Glass affect performance or battery life?
No significant effect is expected, but reducing transparency may slightly improve performance on older iPhones or iPads.